S1 – Selecting an Appropriate Dog for Service Work Course Description This course is text and video based. It covers the physical, psychological, and emotional requirements of service dogs. It evaluates various sources for finding a suitable service dog. It discusses temperament, health, and red flags to look for during an evaluation. It explains breeds and sizes and how they impact the dog’s ability to perform specific tasks. It offers example assessment tests and videos. This course is primarily targeted toward trainers who are helping their client select a dog. It is equally applicable for an owner-trainer to use in choosing a dog for themselves. Course Objectives This course will: · Teach participants guidelines to evaluate a dog’s health, age, confidence, trainability, temperament, sociability, motivation, capability, and willingness to comply · Identify places to obtain a prospective service dog candidate · Teach participants about different dog breeds and what they were bred to do · Teach participants how to evaluate a dog with a specific task in mind · Teach participants how to evaluate a puppy for service dog work · Teach participants how to identify quality shelter and rescue facilities Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: · Assist a client in selecting an appropriate service dog · Evaluate an adult dog for service work · Evaluate a puppy for service work · Evaluate a rescue for service work · Describe which breeds are more suited to perform specifics tasks Outline · Service dog selection & evaluation guidelines · Task evaluation · Assessment tests · Dog breeds and where to find dog candidates · References · Test your knowledge Course Expectations Please allow multiple sessions of at least one to two hours to go through the course and review the references that will be provided. If the topic is less familiar to you, you may need more time to view references or research the area in further depth. You will be asked to complete a very brief survey after you complete the course to give us your feedback. This course includes a video assignment. It requires you to do a video and write up of you doing an assessment on a puppy or dog to determine its suitability as a future service dog. You will need to work with a dog who is not familiar with you. Videos will typically be about 15-30 minutes long. More detailed guidelines for the assignment can be found at the end of this course. You will also be asked to complete a short quiz. A grade of 80% or above is required to pass the quiz. Students have the opportunity to discuss their answers with Atlas faculty as well as retake the quiz if necessary.

Sponsor:Atlas Assistance Dogs
Speaker(s):Jennifer Kolar

Contact: Molly Neher
 Email: info@atlasdog.org
 Phone: 503-893-8080
 Web: https://www.atlasdog.org/